Enhancing Strength Gains With the Power of the Mind

NCT06099678 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 2024-Harper
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of maximal mental effort combined with elastic band training on strength and neuromuscular function in healthy, older females. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does elastic band training in combination with maximal mental effort increase strength more than elastic band training alone?
• Does elastic band training in combination with maximal mental effort improve neuromuscular function more than elastic band training alone? Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups:
• Elastic band training
• Elastic band training with maximal mental effort
• Control Researchers will compare groups to determine differences in changes in strength, neuromuscular function, and body composition.

Conditions

Healthy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in bicep curl strength as measured by load lifted in pounds

  Maximum dumbbell load lifted successfully throughout the range of motion of a bicep curl

  Baseline, Week 7

Secondary Outcomes (21)

• Change in voluntary activation as measured by ratio of superimposed torque to resting twitch torque

  Baseline, Week 7

• Change in handgrip strength as measured in kilograms of force

  Baseline, Week 7

• Change in agonist muscle activation as measured by electromyography amplitude

  Baseline, Week 7

• Change from baseline in isokinetic muscle activation at 6 weeks

  Baseline, Week 7

• Change in antagonist co-activation as measured by electromyography amplitude

  Baseline, Week 7

Other Outcomes (4)

• Change in exercising heart rate

  Each exercise session of the 6-week intervention

• Change in calorie consumption as measured by kilocalories determined by dietary recall

  Baseline, Week 7

• Change in protein consumption as measured by kilocalories determined by dietary recall

  Baseline, Week 7

Study Arms (3)

Elastic Band Training

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will perform moderate intensity, whole-body elastic band training.

Behavioral: Elastic Band Training

Elastic Band Training with Maximal Mental Effort

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will perform moderate intensity, whole-body elastic band training with maximal mental effort during muscle contraction.

Behavioral: Elastic Band Training with Maximal Mental Effort

Control

NO INTERVENTION

This group will not perform any training and maintain their regular level of physical activity.

Interventions

Elastic Band Training BEHAVIORAL

This training intervention will be 6 weeks of moderate-intensity elastic band training, including whole-body and isolated muscle exercises.

Elastic Band Training

Elastic Band Training with Maximal Mental Effort BEHAVIORAL

This training intervention will be 6 weeks of moderate-intensity elastic band training, including whole-body and isolated muscle exercises, where participants will perform maximal mental effort by imagining maximal muscle contraction during each exercise.

Elastic Band Training with Maximal Mental Effort

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 79 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Between 65-79 years of age
• Female
• Have not engaged in structured exercise for 3 years
• Are not reliant upon a walking aid
• Be able to rise from a chair unassisted
• BMI between 25-33 kg/m²
• Have access to the internet and access to a smartphone or computer with a camera at home

You may not qualify if:

• Any history of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or metabolic diseases
• Musculoskeletal injury within the past 6 months
• Any condition affecting muscle function
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Score less than 23 on the Mini-mental State Exam
• Upon starting study, missing more than 2 training session

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kennesaw State University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia, 30144, United States

RECRUITING

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia, 30144, United States

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Garrett Hester, Ph.D.

  Kennesaw State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Garrett Hester, Ph.D.

CONTACT

470-578-4267; ghester4@kennesaw.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The mental effort aspect of the study will be concealed from subjects, so they will not be aware of any difference between training groups.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor of Exercise Science

Model Details: Two intervention groups will perform different types of elastic band training, and a control group will not perform any elastic band training.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 19, 2023
• First Posted: October 25, 2023
• Study Start: November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2024
• Study Completion: November 1, 2024
• Last Updated: December 11, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)